Decortication of fibrous material



Oct. 16, 1951 A, BURKARDT DEcoRTIcATIoN oF FIBRoUs MATERIAL Filed July 26, 1945 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 Oct. 16, 1951 A BURKARDT 2,571,108

DECORTICATION OF FIBROUS MATERIAL Filed July 26, 1945 E, 5 SheeS-Sheet 2 .E INVENTOR.

ANTON BUQKA/zor Oct 16, 1951 A. BURKARDT DECORTICATION oF FIBRoUs MATERIAL 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed July 26, 1945 Oct. 16, 1951 A. BURKARDT DECORTICATION OF FIBROUS MATERIAL 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed July '2.6. 1945 INVENTQR QKQDT ORNEY Oct. 16, 1951 A. BURKARDT 2,571,108

DEcoRTIcATIoN oF FIBRoUs MATERIAL Filed July 2e, 1945 s sham-sheet 5 INVENToR.

patenied Oct. i6, 195i DECORTICATION OF FIBROUS MATERIAL Anton Burkardt, New York, N. Y., assignor to Sativa Corporation, New York, N. Y., a' corporation of New Jersey Application July 26, 1945, Serial No. 607,184

6 Claims.

My present invention relates to improvements in decorticating and degumming machines.

A particular object of the invention is to varrange and co-ordinate the respective mechanisms of a decorticating machine to aiord decortication of wet or green plant stalks, leaves or bark as well as dried fiber-bearing material.

An object of the invention is also to arrange and co-ordinate the component mechanisms of a decorticating machine to increase the output of maximum fibers available in any given :tiberbearing material treated. This phase of the advantages of the decorticating machine comprising the instant invention is attained by providing for a plurality of feeding stations individually equipped with roll means for feeding and crushing the respective courses of the material to be treated, and leading the thus crushed material to individually and combinedly cooperative scutching mechanisms, whereby the plurality of fibrous webs from the respective feeding stations are united into a Single or unitary web of cleaned, decorticated fibers, and whereby the decorticating and cleaning actions are carried out at high rate of operation.

The stated object of attainment of maximum length of clean fiber is attained, pursuant to the invention, by regulating the rate of feed of the crushing rolls and the rate of operation of the scutching mechanisms and assembly of interlocking scutching rotors relative to one another whereby a draft is effected by the scutching mechanism upon the fiber-bearing material spanning these two component parts. Such draftaffording action is also attained by regulation of the depth of the scutching flanges of the scutching rotors and other procedure referred to more fully hereinafter.

The stated object of deriving completely decorticated maximum ber length is also attained, pursuant to the invention, by the employment of a mechanism serving to treat the fibers after delivery from the decorticating mechanism, through coacting drawing chains, characterized by the assembly of a plurality of propelled series of rods mounted, as on sprocket chains, and arranged to provide a throat into which are fed the bers delivered by the scutching rotor assembly, such rods functioning to align and draw the fibers and also effect parallelism of any non-aligned bers delivered by the scutching mechanism. Such subsequent treatment is further enhanced by the criss-cross travel of the webs of fibers effected by such cooperating sets -l il 2 of parallel-effecting rods travelling in mutually staggered paths.

Further features of the invention reside in the provision of undulating scutching flanges for the scutching rotors, undulating edge formations for the effective faces of aprons cooperating with the scutching rotors, forming the scutching rotorsto have concave faces intermediate their respective blades which cooperate with the scutching flanges of associated scutching rotors to form a throat through which the bers pass. The provision of suitable bristle-like brushes or other suitable cylindrical instrumentalities for collating and directing the bers in their transit between the coacting drawing chains, such brushlike instrumentalities being provided with Suitable means for precluding the winding of ber about the rotating or other movable parts..

Such coacting drawing chains serve also to comb the fibers and assemble the webs of fibers into slivers, thus enhancing the intrinsic value of the decorticated fibers, and also enabling the slivers of bers to be fed direct to suitable fabricating machines, such as spinning machines, fabric making machines, rope forming machines, etc.

Pursuant to the preferred embodiments of the invention, the brous material is treated with oils or other lubricants in advance of or during the stage of decortication, whereby the derived bers are protected against rupture in the procedure of decortication, thereby eliminating the production of tow.

Pursuant to the invention, the fibrous material is crushed to express the plant juices including chlorophyll and other valuable constituents which are collected, and the crushed material thereafter treated with water or other suitable fluid for the purpose of removing the residue plant juices.

Pursuant to the invention, water or equivalent may be employed succeeding the stage of crushing and in advance of the treatment of the crushed brous material by the scutching rotor assembly for the purpose of expediting the decortication.

Pursuant to the invention, the scutching rotor assembly is organized to reduce the extent of travel of the crushed fibrous material'whle enhancing the scutching operation accompanied by elimination of the production of tow. In the preferred forms of the scutching rotor assembly the respective scutching and breaking rotors are provided with plates at the apices of their blades and concavely congurated between the blades which concave faces serve as aprons in cooperation with the scutching blades of their respective associated rotors.

In the treatment of certain types of fibrouscontaining material, pursuant to the invention. the scutching and breaking rotors are provided with suitable means for the supply of fluids, desirably closely adjacent the apices of their blades, whereby to expedite the operation of scutching and breaking without the production of tow, afforded by the effect of such fluids, as well as effecting the removal of shives and other nonflbrous material.

It is advantageous, pursuant to the invention, to crush green fiber-containing material, collecting the expressed plant juices; then treating the de-juiced fiber-containing material to suitable liquid to remove its gum constituents; then to supply lubricating liquids to the de-juiced and degummed fibrous material, and thereafter subject the resulting fibrous material to decortication Further features and objects of the invention will be more fully understood from the following detailed description and accompanying drawings. in which:

Fig. 1 is a diagrammatic elevational view of a preferred embodiment of the invention, illustrating a multiple, i. e., double, feed of fiber-bearing material and common scutching mechanism therefor, particularly applicable for dry decortication.

Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional elevation, on an enlarged scale, on line 2-2 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is an elevation of a typical break scutching rotor and a portion, in section on an enlarged scale, taken on line 3-3 of Fig. 2, of an associated anvil scutching apron.

Fig. 4 is a perspective view of one conveyor assembly of coacting drawing chains, comprising a brush-like cylinder serving to gather and direct the fiber web delivered by the scutching rotor assembly, as viewed from line 4 4 in Fig. l.

Fig. 5 is a detail diagrammatic view, illustrating the criss-cross action upon fiber web by staggered crossbars of conveyors of the coacting drawing chains.

Fig. 6 is an elevational view of another preferred embodiment of the invention, corresponding generally to that of Fig. 1, but illustrating one method of wet treatment of the fiber-bearing material concomitant with passage through the multiple, i. e., double, feed arrangement, and also during the transit through the decorticating and scutching assembly.

Fig. 'I is a detail perspective view of a form of rod applicable for the coacting drawing chains. Fig. 7a is a detail perspective view of another form of such rod. Fig. 8 is a detail perspective view of a further form of such rod.

Fig. 9 is a detail perspective view, partly broken away, illustrating a form of manifold sprayer, applicable to the arrangement shown in Fig. 6.

Fig. 10 is a detail perspective view, partly broken away, of a form of crushing roller, equipped with suitable heating means, applicable to the machine shown in Fig. 6.

Fig. 11 is a detail perspective view of another form of break scutching rotor provided with another form of fluid spray means, applicable in the scutching rotor assemblies of the machines shown in Fig. 6.

Fig. l2 is a detail elevation of a form of a combined anvil and apron for association with a break scutching rotor, applicable to the machines shown in Figs. l and 6. Fig. 13 is a longitudinal section of another form of scutching apron. Fig. 14 is a detail longitudinal sectional view of another form of scutching apron. Fig. l5 is a detail longitudinal sectional view of another form of such apron.

Fig. 16 is a detail elevational view of another embodiment of multiple, i. e., double, arrangement for feeding fiber-bearing material to a duplex scutching rotor assembly combining two feed webs into a single or combined fiber web.

Fig. 17 is a detail elevational view, partly in section and partly broken away, illustrating another form of multiple, i. e., double, feed of the fiber-bearing material into a single or combined fiber web.

Fig. 18 is a detail perspective view of another preferred form of scutching anvil and apron for association with a break scutching rotor.

Fig. 19 is a detail perspective view, partly broken away, of a break scutching rotor provided with a form of undulating blade plate.

Fig. 20 is a detail perspective view of a break scutching rotor provided with another form of scutching blade.

Fig. 2l is a detail perspective view of a break scutching rotor provided with yet another form of scutching blade.

Fig. 22 is a perspective diagrammatic view of a pair of break scutching rotors equipped with undulating blades of the character shown in Fig. 2l.

Fig. 23 is a diagrammatic elevational view of another preferred form of scutching rotor assembly, illustrating mutually adjustable sets of posterior scutching rotors.

Fig. 24 is a detail perspective view of another form of drawing chain assembly including another form of fiber-web-gathering cylinder.

Fig. 25 is an end view of another type of drawing chain assembly and fiber-web-gathering cylinder.

Referring to Figs. 1 through 5 of the drawings, the decorticating machine designated generally 30, as illustrated in one preferred embodiment in these figures, comprises two feeding stations respectively designated 3|, 32, from which the flows of fiber-bearing material indicated respectively at 33, 34, pass through the respective assemblies 35, 36 of crushing rollers. Each set of crushing rollers is indicated as mounted on a unitary frame 39 which is suitably supported (not shown). Desirably, the respective rollers 31. 38, of each set are suitably mounted in such frame to be mutually and individually adjusted, indicated by the spring-equipped regulating bar 40, to regulate the degree of crushing of the fiberbearing material.

Preferably, a suitable container, such as indicated at 4|, for each set of crushing rollers, is provided to collect the juices expressed from the fibers by the crushing action, inclusive in particular chlorophyll, such liquid extracts and any entrained solids are separated, and the juicesindividually recovered by processes well understood by those skilled in the art.

Additionally, the preferred embodiment shown in Figs. l and 2 comprises the scutching rotor assembly designated generally l2, which includes a series of individual break scutching rollers mutually spaced. from one another in predeterminei relation serving to receive the webs of crushed fiber material delivered individually and simultaneously from the respective crushing roller assemblies and to align the same generally into a common path of flow through the scutching rotor -43 (see also Fig. 3) serving as the initial berbreaking rotors, and cooperating respectively with their aprons 44, which .have facial formations oi suitable character, referred to more lf ully hereinafter, which cooperate with the edges of vthese rotor blades forming a narrow path or throat for effectively scutching the fibers to remove residual Aby location 'bei'sween the inner faces of theend flanges 44m, such face plate 441i being provided with undulating scutching projections -44p and intermediate fluid -or air discharging passages shives or hurds; these anterior scutching rotors serve also to mpel the fibers to pursue predetermined paths from the respective crushing roller assemblies to a common path of travel 'through the scutching rotor assembly predetermined by the anterior scutching rotors 43 cooperating with the posterior scutchingl rotors 45, 45, etc. The posterior scutching rotors 45, 45, etc., impart additional scutching breaking action upon the stalks and complete any scutching operation on the fibers which may have been omitted by the anterior scutching rotors.

Preferred constructions of the scutching aprons are illustrated in Figs. 12 through 15. It is pointed out at this stage that the scutching aprons 44, 44, are each desirably adjustably mounted about the respective pivot pin 48, as indicated by the slotted ears 4B, 46, and regulating set screws 41, 41, the said parts being supported in a suitable frame (not shown). Such adjustment affords regulation ofthe throat and clearance between each scutching apron 44 withv respect to the path of rotational travel of the scutching edges of its associated scutching rotor As examples of variant forms of aprons, Fig. 12 illustrates an apron having a solid body frame 44h and end flanges 44c, 44c, between which is received the face block 44d, the eective face 44e of which is provided with corrugated ridges, for cooperation in scutching action with the blade edges of the scutching rotor associatedtherewith. Additionally, the effective faces of the end flanges 44e serve as break-anvils in cooperation with the rotor blade edges.

Fig. 13 illustrates in central longitudinal section a face plate 44 f applicable for insertion within an apron frame, such as the apron frame 44h shown in Fig. 12; in the instance of Fig. 13 itseffective face 44g is non-uniformly contoured to provide variant clearances afforded by projecting parts and intermediate depressions, functioning with the blade edges of its associated scutching rotor to eect a breaking as well as scutching action upon the crushed fiber-bearing material.

Fig. 14 illustrates another form of apron frame 44h for cooperation with a scutching rotor; in this instance the body of the apron is hollow, the interior of which communicates with a pipe 44j, for the supply of water or other fluid, or compressed air, or thelike delivered as indicated by the appended arrow, such fluid or compressed air after passing through the hollow interior 44k of the apron being discharged through the openings 44A located in the forward face of the apron 44h. The end anges 44m of the effective face of this type of apron function also as. an anvil to impart a breaking action upon the treated material, in cooperation with the blade edges of the therewith associated scutching rotor.

Fig. 15 illustrates another form of effectivev face plate 441i applicable for insertion in an apron frame, such as the type illustrated in Fig. 14, as

44q in substantialregister with the discharging passages 44A of the apron frame 44h. Desirably, the posterior scutching rotors 45 are mutually .adjustable as to their interlocking scutching-clearances, as by rotatively mounting the same upon a suitable frame indicated generally at 49 in Fig. 2. In' this arrangement the frame 49 is self-adjustable with respect to its component frame parts, one frame part carrying the therein shown righthand set of upper scutching rotor 43v and a therewith lowerly disposed scutching rotor 45, theother frame part carrying the left-hand-scutchingrotor 43 and the therebelow disposed posterior'scu'tching roter 45.

Desirably, the scutched and whipped fibers are now treated by my dual crossbardrawing chain mechanism, pursuant to whichfthe fibers are subjected to further scutching and.' cleaning action effected by flexing of the web of fibers by the crisscross relation of the crossbars of the respective coacting chains. Y I

Pursuant to the invention, the depth or extent of criss-cross travel of the fiber web is regulatable at the far end of the frame by adjustment of the relative paths of travel of the respective chains carrying the rods, to thereby effect a gradual force ofdrawing pull exerted upon the web and the component fibers of the web, whereby to insure the alignment into a single web'ow of the fibers, i. e.,'as slivers. Thus substantial parallelism of the individual fibers is effected substantially entirely by progressively increased tension thereon. Decorticated fibers in sliver form possess enhanced market value; also, the production pur# suant to the invention of the decorticated fibers in slivers, enablesl the product to be fed direct to fabricating machines, such as for the production of rope, fabric or other fabricating machines, as is generally indicated at F. M., at the left-hand end portion of the arrangement illustrated in Fig. 1, and-referred to more fully hereinafter. Specifically as illustrated in Figs. 1 and 4, each conveyor of the crossbar conveyor mechanism is provided at its anterior portion vwith a fiber gather device, illustrated in Fig. tasa brushlike cylinder, designated 5l). indicated as rotarily mounted on a suitable shaft 5|, and provided at its periphery with bristles 52 of suitable ma. terial and character. y n f The rotation of such brush-like cylinder 5|! may be had, and preferablyis, by means of a sprocket chain 53 driven as indicated in Fig. 4 from a driving sprocket gear indicated Vat 54. Associated with each sprocket chain 53 are crossbars 55, mounted in mutual parallel relation upon suitable upstanding gears 56 carried by the sprocket chains 53, such rods 55 serving the functions of lifting the fibers out of theV bristles of the bristle-like cylinder 52, to preclude enwrapping of the fibers about the cylinder and to initiate flow of the fibers longitudinally in` o -the throat and within the clearance path between the contiguous crossbars of the sprocket chains, the adjustment of which clearance path is'had by adjusting the link 54A, shown in Fig. 1, and the opposite duplicate link, provided with slots, one being shown in Fig. 1, for adjusted position of the shaft of the upper sprockets 54.

Desirably, the fiber-collecting cylinder 50 of the lower conveyor islocated below the discharge zone of the scutching rotor assembly, io

ranged and operated to be in staggered relation with respectto the crossbars of the upper conveyor belt in their lower path of travel, as is indicated in Fig. 5, thereby effecting the depth or extent of criss-cross travel of the fiber web, referred to above, and thereby increase or decrease the draft on the ber at will.

Specifically as shown in Figs. l, 4 and 25, the drive of each brush-like or equivalent cylinder by its sprocket chain 53 is had by mounting a sprocket gear, designated 54h, on the shaft of the brush-like cylinder, whereby the crossbars carried by the sprocket chain traverse closely to the effective perimeter of the bristles of the brush or equivalent of such cylinder and thereby preclude the winding of the fiber about the cylinder or between the bristles.

It is pointed out that the volume of material in the form of scutched fiber delivered by the scutching mechanism to the coacting drawing chains or other subsequent ber-treating mechanism averages approximately one-fifth of the bulk of the fiber-bearing material fed to the feeding station, and accordingly embodiments of the invention providing for the continuously increased speed of flow of travel of the fibrous material from the stage of the initial scutching, namely by the anterior scutching rotors to and through the drawing chains or other fibertreating mechanism posterior of the scutching mechanism. afford not only decreased total period of treatment of the fiber-bearing material but also the delivery of cleaner resulting fiber.

Figs. '1, 7a and 8 illustrate other forms of crossbars applicable for mounting in the sprocket chains of such dual or other multiple co-acting conveyor assemblies.

The machine illustrated in Fig. 6 follows the general arrangement of Figs. l through 3, with respect to the feeding of a plurality of courses of fiber-bearing materials through separate crushing roll mechanism, thence to individual scutching rotor assembly, and thence into a single unified web to a multiple, i. e., dual, conveyor assembly; the parts of Fig. 6 which correspond generally to the parts contained in the foregoing embodiment are designated by like reference characters. In particular, the machine illustrated in Fig. 6 embodies a wet method of the treatment of fiber-bearing material, employing a saponifled solution or a suitable degumming fluid such as an aqueous soda solution, or water alone, supplied under proper pressure and temperaturmthe general purposes of which function to aid in softening the outer portions of the fiber-bearing material, to facilitate the removal in whole or in part of the gummy constituents of the same including the gummy constituents embraced about the fibers per se, also to facilitate the crushing of the material, enhance decorticating the same, physically wash down the re- -lll leased ingredients, etc. 'I'he supply of such treating fluid is indicated by the pipe line Il. having branches 5l, equipped with regulating faucets, as indicated, which branches lead to spray manifolds 58, such as indicated in Fig. 9. The above treatment may be accompanied by the application of compressed air, either through the spray manifolds 59, or through independent spray nozzles. The crushing rolls, in whole or in part. may embody the construction indicated at 31a in Fig. 10, namely providedylith a hollow shaft 31h for the supply of steam or'the like. leading' to the hollow interior 31e of such roll, and discharging through the opposite hollow shaft 31d; the supply of steam is indicated at 31e, the temperature of which is regulated to obtain optimum results. 'I'he supply ofY steam or other heating fluid is indicated at Fig. 6 by the pipe lines 60.

Fig. 6 illustrates also the supply of such decortleating-facilitating fluid from the supply line 51, to which are connected the branch lines 5l leading to the respective anvil-provided scutching aprons "a, which in vsuch instance are of hollow construction, as shown in Fig. 6; from the .hollow interior of such apron lead discharge openings which are directed from the effective face of the decorticating apron, illustrated and described more particularly with reference to Figs. 12, 13, 14 and 15.

Such degumming and/or washing and pressure fluid treatment may also be carried out in connection with the treatment of the fiber web carried by the coacting drawing chains. This is indicated in Fig. 6 by the fluid lines leading to the perforated spray manifolds, also designated 59, such fluids serving also the function of lubricating the web of fibers in their passage through the stated mechanism.

Fig. 11 illustrates a break-scutching rotor l2, of hollow construction, the interior of which communicates with a hollow inflow shaft il, the effective decorticating arcuate faces of the rotor being provided with a series of discharge openings 64, for the discharge of water or other duid, or compressed air or the like, whereby the released shives, hurds and other constituent parts released by scutching action from the fiber-bearing material are projected under such pressure exteriorly of the path of flow of the webs of fiber passing through the scutching rotor assembly, thus enhancing separation of the unwanted material from the webs of fiber passing through the machine and prevent winding of the flber on the Fig. 16 illustrates another embodiment of the invention providing for the feeding of a plurality of courses of the fiber-bearing material to individual scutching rotor assemblies, whereby two flows of fibers are fed from the same side and consolidated into a single web. In this instance the two courses are indicated respectively at 65, 6B, which are fed horizontally in substantially parallel planes, indicated by the applied arrows from the same side of the machine. s

In this embodiment oi the invention, the crushing roll 61 and also the crushing roll Il which respectively represent a series of such crushing rolls, are associated with one or more break-scutching rotors of the type illustrated by rolls 69, 10, namely provided with scutching peripheral ribs which project radially and extend arcuately axially of the body portions of these rotors. As illustrated in Fig. 16, the stated ribs of the rotors 89, 10 are arranged upon a common shaft and their respective ribs may extend in substantially parallel direction with respect to one another.

Associated with such rolls 69, 10 is a series of scutching rotors 13, 13a, which extend axially the full path of the two courses of the fibrous material to be treated. These rotors are also provided with scutching ribs at their respective peripheries which project radially, the ribs of the rotor 13 extending arcuately with respect to the axis in one circular direction whereas the ribs of the other rotor 13 extend axially in the opposite circular direction. The gearing for driving the stated rotors 68, 13 is indicated at 14.

Fig. 17 illustrates another embodiment of the invention with respect to the feature of multiple, i. e., double-decker, courses of fiber-bearing material which are fed to individual scutching rotor assemblies and thence to a common scutching mechanism, similarly as in the arrangements shown in Figs. 1 and 6. Pursuant to such arrangement, one course indicated at 80 is fed over a platform indicated at 8| and the other course indicated at 82 is fed over the platform indicated at 83; the platform 83 in this instance, for simplicity of construction, is disposed vertically below that of the platform 8|, whereby the feeding of the course 82 may be carried out between its platform 83 and a horizontally extending partition 84 which is physically a lowerly part of the platform 8|. The respective crushing rolls 85, 88, indicate a series or plurality of such feeding. and crushing rolls which may be arranged in number and mutual relationship as is indicated in the machines respectively shown in Fig. 1 and Fig. 6. In the instance, as shown in Fig. 17, the mating rolls 81, 88 may be arranged upon common guide studs 89, the shafts of the rolls 81, 88 being suitably mounted in frames (not shown). The pressure adjustment of such mating rolls 81, 88 may be regulated by coil springs such as indicated at 90. In such arrangement, as indicated in Fig. 17, extension feeding platforms indicated at 9|, 92,`respectively may be employed, such extension platforms 9|, 92 being in substantial alignment with the respective main platforms 8|, 83, with such extension platforms are arranged guide rolls 93, 94, for respectively holding in flow positions the preliminarily crushed courses 80, 82, of the fiber-bearing material, for proper delivery to the common scutching rotor assembly.

Fig. 18 illustrates a preferred form of anvil and scutching apron combination applicable generally for effecting breaking and scutching action in cooperation with scutching rotors. AAs shown, such anvil is provided at its edge |0| with a corrugated or other mutually spaced formation |02, being either machined or otherwise formed or in the shape of a corrugated plate applied to the effective tip of the anvil. Such anvil formation may be applied to the anvil parts c of the apron illustrated in Fig. 12 and/or anvil parts 44m of the apron 44h shown in Fig. 14.

Fig. 18 shows at |00a the concave face of the apron of the scutching anvil, for cooperation with a break scutching rotor, similarly as in Figs. 1 and 6, as above described.

Cooperating with such undulating or other non-uniform anvil tip, such as the stated tip formation |02, rotors of the type illustrated in Figs. 19, 20 and 21 m'ay be employed. The rotor |03 illustrated in Fig. 19 is shown having an undulating edge formation |04, affording generally-.

that is to say with a normal or straight-edge 10 anvil-the action of distributing fibers or groups of fibers mutually with respect to one another as well as presenting arcuate or other undulating edges, bringing about a cushioned shearing action in the removal of shives, hurds, and the like, as indicated in Fig. 19, and without injury to the individual fibers thus treated. As illustrated, the formation |04 is shown applied to the effective edge portion of a blade of a rotor in the form of a plate, suitably secured thereto. The scutching rotor |05 illustrated in Fig. 20 is provided with blades |06 machined or otherwise treated t0 provide undulating edge formation |01 upon the respective blades of the rotor. The rotor |08 illustrated in Fig. 21 showsl the formation of a body portion having concave faces |08a extending axially of the body portion having such bosses, being provided with grooves in which are positioned blade-edge formations ||0 of corrugated or other undulating facial formation, forming a narrow path, etc.

Fig. 22 illustrates the cooperation of two sequential related scutching rotors, such as of the type |08 illustrated in Fig. 21, the flow of fiber indicated at being scutched by mutual coaction of the stated rotors |08, |08 and simultaneously distributed relative to the length of the-undulating rotor blades 0. Fig. 22 illustrates also the relative to-and-fro reciprocation of two scutching rotors, such reciprocation indicated by the arrow I2 and effected by suitable mechanism, as will be understood by those skilled in the art.

Fig. 23 illustrates another form of coacting and serial relationship of scutching rotors. 'I'he rolls 31, 31 etc. represent rolls such as feeding and crushing rolls similarly designated, as arranged in Fig. 1, or as arranged in Fig. 6, or otherwise as hereinabove described, embodying the general principle of multiple, i. e., dual, feeding fiber-bearing material to a decorticating mechanism. The decorticating mechanism illustrated in Fig. 23 comprises the anterior break and scutching rotors H5, H6, respectively, arranged to receive the crushed material from the dual feeding-andI crushing mechanism. Associated with such scutching rotors H5, ||6 are aprons I1, ||8 functioning to carry out the ow of crushed material respectively from the crushing means and effecting parallel scutching of the crushed fiber-bearing material, accompanied by the release of shives, hurds and other unwanted constituents. Associated with such anterior I5, IIE are series of posterior scutching rotors, which in this embodiment are arranged for mutual adjustment. As shown, the posterior scutching rotors ||9, |20, |2| are rotatively mounted in one adjustable frame member |22 of a suitable frame indicated generally at |23 and having another adjustable member |24 on which are rotatively mounted the posterior scutching rotors |25, |26, whereby the e'ective clearance between the rotor blades and intervening arcuate faces of the respective scutching rotors are adjustable by group adjustment, such relative adjustment being indicated by the adjusting screws |21, |28, and afford the regulation of the draft on the fibers.

The arrangement shown in Fig. 23 with respect to the path of delivery of the crushed fiberbearing material from the respective roll means to the common decorticating mechanism follows that carried out in the arrangement shown in Fig. 1 and the arrangement shown in Fig. 6, namely that the path of vilow of the crushed fiber-bearing materialas discharged from each 11 roll means initially takes an upward course, namely between the respective anterior scutching rotors, such as the scutching rotors H5, IIB of the arrangement shown in Fig. 23, whence the path of flow of the material under scutching operation is upwardly and then sinuously downwardly between the anterior scutching rotors and thence to and sequentially intermediate between the respective posterior scutching rotors, until finally discharged from such decorticating mechanism to such subsequent treatment as may be desired, and in particular with reference to the arrangement shown in Figs. 1 and 6, to the cooperating rod-bearing conveyor means, which, as above described, affords parallelism between the ber flows and the individual fibers of each fiber flow, thereby obtaining optimum decortication and cleaning and in particular preserving the full length of the fibers present in the original material treated.

Fig. 24 illustrates another form of fiber-gathering cylinder of the general type illustrated in Fig. 4, and like parts are designated by like reference characters. In particular, the cylinder shown in Fig. 24 comprises an inner cylindrical body part |30 from which project radial extensions III which are peripherally spaced from one another by clearances indicated at I 32. The mutual spacing of such clearances |32 about the periphery of the cylinder corresponds to the spacing of the rod elements 55 from one another as f mounted upon the conveyor chain 53. Such rods l! may be oi' the form shown in Fig. 4 or of the variant forms shown in Figs. '7, 7a, 8, etc.

The fiber-gathering cylinder illustrated in Fig. 25 is of a further variant type and embodies an inner cylinder body portion |33 at the periphery of which are secured double-angled plates |34, the mutual spacing between angles of contiguous angle plates |34 corresponding to the spacing between the rods 55 of the conveyor chains 53, similarly as in the general arrangement shown in Fig. 24 and in Figs. 1,4and 6.

As indicated graphically in Figs. 1 2, 6 and 23, in particular, the scutching rotors of the variant embodiments of decorticating mechanism forming part of the instant invention, are arranged to effect scutching oi' the fiber-bearing material by mutual interaction oi' their respective blade terminal portions serving as one moving element and the concave depressions intermediate the blade edges of the cooperating scutching rotor, such rotors rotating in opposing directions. As specic illustrations, reference is made to Figs. 11, 20, 21 and 22, wherein the stated concave depressions are respectively designated by the reference characters 62a, |||5a and |08a.

In like manner, the concave face of an apron provided with an anvil and face plate, such as the concave face |||a of the anvil provided apron ||I||, see Fig. 18, cooperates with the blades of thetherewith associated scutching rotor. Such scutching operation-is carried out additionally to the scutching operation primarily effected by the anterior scutching rotorsl in cooperation with their respective aprons. By mounting the scutching rotors, in particular the sequentially related scutching rotors to regulate the effective clearance between the blade edges and the concave depressions, the degree of pressure and scutching actions are adjusted to produce optimum cleaning as well as optimumscutching oi.' the thus treated fibers.

Subsequent to the variant decorticating and cleaning treatments of the fibrous web described hereinabove, the ultimate web delivered by the coacting drawing chains. see Fig. l, is subjected to a series of pin-provided rolls |40, |40, etc., with which cooperate weight rollers |4|, |4|. These pinned-rollers serve to comb the web into the final sliver which is delivered by the cooperating guide rolls |42, |42 to the intake device typified at |43 of the fabricating machine F. M., such as a rope-making machine, fabric-making machine, or spinning mechanism, etc., for the production of the desired fabricated fibrous product.

Advantageously, also as indicated in Fig. l, the final sliver is subjected to radiation, such as a drying lamp, indicated at |44, |44, or to any other form of drying treatment inclusive of elevated temperature.

Preferably, the rate of rotation of the series of combing, i. e., pin-provided rolls |40, is increased in the direction of travel of the brous sliver by each successive combing roll operation.

As disclosed hereinabove, the rate of effective operation of the respective component mechanism of the decorticating machine is selected in accordance with the requirements of the nbercontaining material treated, inclusive of whether such material is in dried or green status, and/or dry or wet-treated status, taking also into con- 'sdera'tion the particular fiber-containing material. In numerous instances of such treatment, it is advantageous to regulate the effective rate of operation of the coacting drawing chains effectively higher than the rate of delivery of the fibrous material by the scutching rotor mechanism to the drawing chains. Such manner of operation is of particular utility in those instances such as hemp, ramie and the like having strands of fibers sumciently long to be subjected to simultaneous treatment by the scutching mechanism and the coacting drawing chains, whereby a draft force is exerted by the relatively faster movement of the crossbars of the drawing chains, in which operation the frictional engagement of the crossbars with the fibers creates such draft. The frictional engagement of the crossbars of the drawing chains with the fibers is increased by adjustment at the delivery end of the drawing chains afforded by the slots 54A of the slotted links 54a, referred to above, to thereby increase or decrease the depth of interengagement of the crossbars of the drawing frame. Fig. l indicates the web |55 passing through the drawing chains and having fibers indicated at |54 still in process of treatment within the scutching rotor mechanism, whereby under the conditions of operations immediately above set out, the fibers of such web are subjected to the stated draft.

lThe frictional engagement by the crossbars of the drawing chains functions also to hold with a degree of slippage but suillciently to maintain the fiber web taut for proper combing by the succeeding combing rolls.

A particular advantage obtained by the decorticating machine, operated under optimum conditions hereinabove set out, is the delivery succeeding the final operation of fibers arranged not only in mutually parallel relationship but a web composed of single fiber strands positioned sideby-side with respect to one another, thus aiording the utilization of such single iiber sideby-side web directly in a fabricating machine, especially for the treatment of such web for the production of fabric or the like the unique aggregate of such 13 single fiber in mutual side-by-side relationship are availed of.

I claim:

l. A machine for decorticating fiber-bearing material, said machine comprising in sequence: coacting rollers for crushing and feeding the fiber-bearing material; a scutching rotor assembly positioned to rective the crushed fiber-bearing material from said coacting rollers, said assembly includ'ng a plurality of coacting fiberbre'aking rotors for eifectiv-:ly scutching the fl'f' ers received thereby, to remove the residual shives or hurds and for impeiling the fibers to pursue a predetermined path; and a dual crossbar drawing chain mechanism positioned to receive the fibers from said scutching rotor assembly, said mechanism including pairs of adjacent substantially parallel endless chains, each pair of chains carrying transverse crossbars extending outwardly therefrom between crossbars of the opposite chain-` and said chains being adjustable to approach one another in the direction of fiber travel, whereby the fibers are subjected to further scutching and cleaning by progrrssively increased flexing between the crossbars of the respective pairs of chains of said dual crossbar drawing chain mechanism.

2. A machine for decorticating fiber-bearing material, said machine comprising in sequence: coacting rollers for crushing and feeding the fiber-bearing material; a scutching rotor assembly positioned to receive the crushed fiber-bearing.material from said coacting rollers. said assembly including a plurality of coactingfiberbreaking rotors for effectively scutching the fibers received thereby, to remove the residual shives or hurds and for impelling the fibers to pursue a predetermined path; and a dual crossbar drawing chain mechanism positioned to receive the fibers from said scutching rotor assembly, lsaid mechanism including pairs of adjacent substantially parallel endless chains, each pair of chains carrying transverse crossbars extending outwardly therefrom between crossbars of the opposite chain, and said chains being adjustable to approach one another in the direction of fiber travel, whereby the fibers are subjected to further scutching and cleaning by progressively increased flexing between the crossbars of the respective pairs of chains of said dual crossbar drawing chain mechanism; in combination with a rotarily mounted brush-like cylinder positioned at the anterior portion of each pair of endless chains of said drawing chain mechanism and in the predetermined path of the fibers leaving said scutching rotor assembly, for gathering the fibers from said scutching rotor assembly and transferring such fibers to said drawing chain mechanism.

3. A machine for decorticating fiber-bearing material, said machine comprising in sequence: coacting rollers for crushing and feeding the fiber-bearing material; a scrutching rotor assembly positioned to receive the crushed fiber bearing material from said coacting rollers, said assembly including an anterior fiber-breaking rotor and a coacting posterior fiber-breaking rotor for effectively scrutching the fibers received thereby to remove the residual shives or hurds and for impelling the fibers to pursue a predetermined path; a scrutching apron adjacent said anterior fiber-breaking rotor having a facial formation for coaction with the edges of said anterior fiber-breaking rotor for initially scrutching the fibers; and a dual crossbar drawing chain mechanism positioned to receive the fibers scutching and cleaning by progressively increased flexing between the crossbarsY of the respective pairs of .chains of said dual crossbar drawing vchain mechanism.

vd. A machine for decorticating fiber-bearing material, said machine comprising in sequence: a plurality of' assemblies of. coacting rollers for l crushing and feeding the fiber-bearing material from a plurality of directions; a scutching rotor assembly positioned to receive the crushed fiberbearing material from said plurality of assemblies of coacting rollers, said scutching rotor assembly including a plurality of coacting fiberbreaking rotors for effectively scutching the fibers received thereby to remove the residual shives or hurds and forA impelling the fibers to pursue a predetermined path; and a dual crossbar drawing chain mechanism positioned to receive the fibers from said scutching rotor assembly, said mechanism including pairs of adjacent substantially parallel endless chains, each pair of chains carrying transverse crossbars extending outwardly therefrom between crossbars of the opposite chain; and said chains being adjustable to approach one another in the direction of fiber travel, whereby the fibers are subjected to further scutching and cleaning by progressively increased iiexing between the crossbars of the respective pairs of chains of said dual crossbar drawing chain mechanism. l 5. A machine for decorticating iiber-bearin material, said machine comprising in sequence: coacting rollers for crushing and feeding the fiber-bearing material; a scutching rotor assembly positioned to receive the crushed fiber-bearing material from said coacting rollers, said assembly including a plurality of coacting fiberbreaking rotors for effectively scutching the fibers received thereby, to remove the residual shives or hurds and for impelling the fibers to pursue a predetermined path; and a dual crossbar drawing chain mechanism positioned to re- .ceive the fibers from .said scutching rotor assembly, said mechanism including pairs of adjacent substantially parallel endless chains, each pair of chains carrying transverse crossbars extending outwardly therefrom between crossbars of the opposite chain, and said chains converging to approach one another in the direction of fiber travel, whereby the fibers are subjected to further scutching and cleaning by progressively increased flexing between the crossbars of the respective pairs of chains of said dual crossbar drawing chain mechanism.

6. A machine for decorticating fiber-bearing material, said machine comprising in sequence: coacting rollers for crushing and feeding the fiber-bearing material; a scutching rotor assembly positioned to receive the crushed fiber-bearing material from said coacting rollers, said assembly including a plurality of coacting fiber-breaking rotors for effectively scutching the fibers received thereby, to remove the residual shives or hurds and for impelling the fibers to pursue a predetermined path; and a dual crossbar drawing chain mechanism positioned to receive the fibers'from said scutching rotor assembly, said mechanism including pairs of adjacent substantially parallel endless chains, each pair of chains carrying transverse crossbars extending outwardly therefrom between crossbars of the opposite chain, and said chains converging to approach one another in the direction o1' fiber travel, whereby the bers are subjected to further scutching and cleaning by progressively increased ilexing between the crossbars of the respective pairs of chains of said dual crossbar drawing chain mechanism; in combination with a rotarily mounted brush-like cylinder positioned at the anterior portion of each pair of endless chains o! said drawing chain mechanism and in the predetermined path of the ilbers leaving said scutching rotor assembly, for gathering the bers from said scutching rotor assembly and transferring such nbers to said drawing chain mechanism.

ANTON BURKARDT.

16 REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the ille of this patent:

5 UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 358.827 Angell Mar. 8, 1887 458,318 Heany Aug. 25. 1991 494,175 Smith Mar. 28, 1893 10 1,064,029 Tombyll June 10, 1913 1,627,919 McLeod May 10, 1927 1,766,864 Wershinin June 24, 1930 1,983,454 Haynes Dec. 4, 1934 2,079,661 Patterson May 11, 1937 15 2,197,683 Burkardt Apr. 16, 1940 2,207,900 Soenens July 16, 1940 2,233,753 Burkardt Mar. 4, 1941 2,305,904 Selvig Dec. 22, 1942 n FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 128,732 Great Britain June 26, 1919 

